Search - Melvin and Howard on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1980 DVD Release: 10/12/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 35 mins Studio: Anchor Bay Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Comedy Drama, Americana See Also: Melvin and Howard

Jonathan Demme's breakthrough movie featured the shaggy energy and affection for marginal American eccentrics that marked his earlier Citizens Band (1977) and such later films as Something Wild (1986) and Married to the Mob (1988). Melvin Dummar (Paul LeMat) is a barely-getting-by Nevada milkman. One day in the early 1970s, while driving down a lonely highway, Melvin picks up a shaggy, bearded bum (Jason Robards Jr.) and offers him a ride into town. Melvin gives the bum a quarter at the end of the ride, and that, so far as Melvin is concerned, is that. The story goes off on a new tangent, involving the on-and-off marriage between Dummar and his contest-happy wife Lynda (Mary Steenburgen). During one of the multitude of financial crises endured by the Dummars, Melvin discovers that the tramp he picked up was none other than billionaire Howard Hughes -- and when Hughes dies, Melvin inherits $150 million. The movie's wide acclaim included Oscars for Steenburgen and Goldman's script and New York Film Critics Awards in almost all major categories, including Best Picture and awards for Demme, Goldman, Steenburgen, and Robards. Demme would gain even greater attention in the 1990s as the director of The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Philadelphia (1993). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Paul Le Mat - Melvin Dummar
Jason Robards, Jr. - Howard Hughes
Mary Steenburgen - Lynda Dummar
Jack Kehoe - Jim Delgado
Michael J. Pollard - Little Red
Dabney Coleman - Judge Keith Hayes
Pamela Reed - Bonnie Dummar

Jonathan Demme's award-winning comedy Melvin and Howard comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. There are neither subtitles nor closed-captions on this release. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Demme and production designer Toby Rafelson, the theatrical trailer, and biographies. This is a strong release from Anchor Bay. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide